Fire extinguishing and alarm system



NCW. 19, 1940. J, E'DMUNDSQN I 2,222,365

FIRE EXTINGUISHING AND ALARM SYSTEM Filed July 15, 1958 Patented Nov. 19, 1940 rnrsu r OFFICE FIRE EXTINGUISHING AND ALARM SYSTEM Jerone Edmundson, Birmingham, Ala.

Application July 13, 1938, Serial No. 219,074

17 Claims.

This invention relates to fire extinguishing systems broadly and is particularly concerned with systems of that, type which operate automatical- 1y through the release of a gaseous extinguishing.

medium, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) or the like as in my copending application Serial Number 155,132, filed July 22, 1937.

The invention has for an object to provide a coordinated fire extinguishing and alarm system arranged for installation in conjunction with an air conditioning system, wherein the gaseous extinguishing medium is released through a reliably acting fluid starting system which becomes automatically operative upon an abnormal rise in temperature in any part or parts of the building in which the system may be installed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a.

fire extinguishing system wherein an extinguish ing gas may be used alone or in conjunction with 2 deoxygenated gases from a heating system.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coordinated fire extinguishing and alarm system wherein an alarm will be sounded regardless of whether or not the electricalsystem fails and wherein, also, irrespective of failure of such alarm system, alarms will be sounded both within or adjacent the compartment in which the fire occurs and at a point remote with respect thereto. I

A further object is to provide a fire extinguishing system in conjunction with an air condition-v ing system which when not operating permits unhindered operation of the air conditioning system.

Further objects include the provision of an improved fire extinguishing system of the type which may be set to operate automatically upon a predetermined rise in temperature, that is, a system which is more or less flexible in that it may be charged with a gaseous extinguishing medium capable of boiling and expanding when a predetermined temperature above the normal is reached; to provide a system wherein the application of the extinguishing gas is more or less localized with respectto the fire or the compartment in which the fire occurs; to provide a system in which the parts are invisible or are con cealed in the wall or partition structure of the building in which the system may be installed; and to generally improve and render more sure in operation fire extinguishing and alarm systems of the type contemplated.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will become apparent in View of the following description taken in conjunction with the extinguishing and alarm system illustrative oi? the present invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, a building or dwelling is generally indicated at B and is provided with a basement B" and a plurality of rooms or compartments RI, R2, R3, the latter being shown as an attic or top compartment. The 10 air conditioning system, starting with the pressure side, includes a supply duct 5, which communicates with the respective room's RI, R2 through branch ducts a and 5b feeding into the various rooms or compartments through intake 15 openings 50 and 5d. On the return side of the system, the air from the various rooms or com partments is, taken into return duct 6 through exhaust openings 6a and 6b, the return duct 6 communicating through ducts 6c and 6b, and 20; blower l with duct 5. The supply duct 5 is shown provided with'a filter .8, cooling coils 9 and air heating unit l6.

Fresh air is taken into the system through duct H, H which is preferably provided at its inlet with a filter I2, the air exhausting through outlet lia, lib, the latter having mounted therein a fan Hi, the purpose of which will be-more fully disclosed hereinafter.

.It will be seen that circulation of air in the 0' system may be established through the medium of the fan or blowerl, the air circulating through supply duct 5, ducts 5a, 5b and then out into the rooms or compartments RI, R2 through openings 5c-and 5d, the air returning through openings 6a, 6b, duct 6, 6c, 6d, the circulating air being constantly supplied with a predetermined amount of fresh or atmospheric air through intake duct H. 7

A main heating unit or plant is indicated at I4 40.,

ducts and be circulated in a continuous cycle'returning'to the heating unit for deoxygenation, and recirculation. A pipe line I51) connects the air heating unit it) with heating unit M.

I The system is set in operationthrough the medium of an expansible' fluid,.having a boiling 55 downwardly and being coiled or otherwise suitwill be charged with an expansible fluid, for eX-' ably disposed in the outlets 6 and 612, said coils being indicated at Hi) and Ho respectively. Pipe lines Nd and He complete the coil circuit. Shown below the tanks lfia are ceiling lines I8, Hia which may be in the form of receptacles or fiat containers and which communicate with trap lines 19, Ha, thelatter in turn communicating with line 20 extending downwardly and com municating at its lower end with starting receptacleZl.

Normally, the starting system including the tanks l6, I611, lines l1, Ila, coils llb, 110, lines I Id, We and ceiling lines or receptacles l8, 83a,

ample'to the level i indicated at 22 and 22a. -When an abnormal temperature is reached at any point in the rooms RI, R2 or in the roof compartment or attic R3, the fluid will .boil and expand up through trap lines I9, IBa-and pass downwardlythrough line 23 into receptacle 2i.

The receptacle 2! v has a sliding mounting on the end of line 20, said receptacle being provided with an adjustable friction connection such as a clamp collar 23' provided with, an adjusting screw 23a. A stop "collar'24 is connected to the lower end'iof pipe 20. .By properly adjusting the frictional clamping action of means for suspending the receptacle 2! on the end of the line 20, when the receptacle becomes full or partially full of liquid from the starting system'above described,.it will slide downwardly thereon.

Connected to the receptacle 2| is av lever 25,

cooling duct 32 communicating at its lower .end with the atmosphere and at its upper end with,

the exhaust extremity, of the fresh air duct 1 l. The duct 3| is adapted to take the gases of combus tion from the heating unit or plant 14 and conduct such gases into the air conditioning duct system, starting with duct 511.,

Damper 28 at the exhaust extremity of the duct 3l3la constitutes an auxiliary closure and may not be necessary, however, it constitutes an added seal to prevent gases leaking into the air conditioning system when the fire extinguishing system is not operating. Its I normal position is shown in full lines.

Damper 29 controls the return duct-3, 6c, 6d

of the air conditioning system. .When in its normal full line position, it permits free circulation of air through said return duct, but when in its dotted'line position, it closes that portion of the return duct which leads to the duct 6d and at the same time permit'air and gases returning through duct 60 to pass into the basement B and mingle with air and gases therein and be subjected to deoxygenation by the heating unit l4 and then recirculated.

Damper 30 constitutes in effect a dividing wall orv partition between that portion ofthe fresh air intake duct indicated at H and'that portion of the exhaust air outlet duct indicated at I la. When this damper is moved to its dotted line position, it closes both of said latter ducts.

The gaseous fire extinguishing medium, preferably CO2: is normally charged into a series of tanks 33, 34, 35, although it could be contained in any other suitable means or released from a source of generation, the tank 33 communicating through line 33a, 3321 with diffusion or sprinkler header 330 having fusible release plugs 1 36 therein; while the tank 34 communicates through lines 34a, 341) with sprinkler header 340 having therein fusible outlet or release plugs 31, said headers 33c and 340 being illustrated as extending over the top of the compartment R3. It will be obvious, however, that these headers with" their fusible release plugs could be disposed if necessary at the top of the compartments RI,

R2 or any other suitable point.

The lines 33b, 34b are provided with branches 38 and 39 which-are normally closed by fusible plugs 40 and 4| located in the openings 6a and 6b of the return ducts 6 of the-air conditioning system. When these plugs fuse or become released due to the application of heat, CO2 gas may pass from the lines 341L340 to the branches 38 and 39 and through lines 38a, 39a to, the supply ducts 5a, 5b of the said air conditioning system. When such release. is effected, there will be an aspirating, effect set up through the lines 38a, 39a, due to the flow of air past the upturned outlets of said latter lines into the rooms or compartments R], R2, for a purpose which will be more fullydescribed in connection with the operation of theflsystem. The lines minating in a fusible release plug 44 whichissubjected to the heat of any gas that may be by-passed through the duct 3!. An additional release plug of a fusible nature is connected to the .end of the line 43 and is exposed to the heat of any gas that may pass through the adjacent portion of said duct 3|. Thus should the gases of combustion be by-passed through the duct 3!, CO2 gas will be released from the line 43 and pass into the return duct 6d of the air conditioning system and thence into the supply ducts to the rooms or compartments RI, R2 in a manner to be hereinafter more fully described.

The alarm system is coordinated with the fire extinguishing system both electrically and nonelectrically or, in efiect, mechanically. Thus, should the electric'system fail for any reason whatsoever, the mechanical alarm system will operate and vice versa. 7

First, considering the electrical system, release plugs 44 and 45 have mounted adjacent thereto auxiliary heating or release elements 45 and 41, which may be in the nature of resistance coils or the like. The fan or blower l and the motor 48 for the condensing unit 49 are connected into the feed lines 50, 50a, of the main electrical circuit so that they will operate constantly when switch 5| is closed. The electrical alarm. system, however, is adapted to be energized when switch 52 is closed through downward movement of receptacle 2|. Thus when the switch 52 is closed.- automatically by dropping of the recepill tacle 2 I the electric alarm system willbeuthrown" into operation.

. The electrical alarm system may include .one'

or more audible alarms 53 disposed in the openings -5c,.5d of the supply. ducts 5a,.5b, such audible alarm being of any suitable type such as bells,- buzzers or any other audible. signal which will be set in operation when the switch 52 isclosed.

narily, however, such lamps may be disposed on 'a panel board or other central point where they will be plainly visible to a watchman.

The non-electrical alarm-in its preferred form comprises a storage tank 56 which communicates through line 56a with outlet header .51, the line 56a having therein a fusible release plug 58 which is adapted to fuse or melt when subjected to. heat by-passed into the duct ill. The gas in this tank may be of the conventional obnoxious. but nonpoisonous warning type, such as ethyl mercaptan, ammonia gas, acrolin and the like, so that when it is released in one of the rooms or compartments or at a point remote from the latter, its disagreeable odor will atonce call attention to fire or .a dangerous temperature. Obviously the header 5'! could extend to or communicate with any point remote from the compartment or even the building in which thesystem is located.

The system operates as follows:

Should a fire occur in room or compartment RI for example, or should the heat in this room reach an abnormal or dangerous temperature and which may be predetermined in accordance with each particular system, the fluid in the starting system comprising tanks I6, coil llb and lines ll and lid will boil and pass upwardly through trap l9 and then downwardly through line into receptacle 2i. When the latter receptacle becomes fi led or partially filled, depending upon adjuste ment of slip clutch or member 23, it drops downwardly actuating lever 25, therebymoving dampers 2'5, 23, 29 and 3D to their dotted line positions.

ihis action will also close switch 52,. thereby.

sounding the audible alarm 53 and energizing the "visible alarm or lamp 54 assuming both types of alarms are utilized. Gases from the heating unit I l will then be by-passed through duct 31, am into duct 6d of the air conditioning system and thence taken by blower l and circulated through ducts 5, 5a and into room RI through outlet 50. The relatively warm or hotgases cause the plugs 4 and 55 to fuse, thereby releasing gas from the tank into the air conditioning system, said,

gases mingling with the gases of combustionor deoxygenated. gas and flowing with the latter into and act as an added insurance to effect fusion of.

the plugs 44 and 45.

The deoxygenating gases from the heating unit i l flowing through the duct 3! are cooled as they pass upwardly through the duct 3la surrounded by the cooling duct 32. While normally there will be a thermal circulation of air through the duct 32, yet the fan It will also serve to expedite cir-, culation in this part of the system as well as through the fresh air duct I l.

The. abnormal. temperature of the room will effectwfusion and release of plugllfigzthereby releasing CO2 :gasfrom line 3% into' duct. 5a.

Theicommingled deoxygenated gases and CO2 gasreturn from' the room through opening Ba and return ducts 6, 6c and then pass into the basement andintotthe heating unit i l for deoxygenationaand recirculation as above described.

A thermostat 59 may be mounted in the duct 5 and be electrically connected to firing device Ma in order to increase or decrease the heat of the circulating gases. Thus, if because ottoo rapid production of deoxygenated gas the temperature of the latter becomes too high, the fuel supplied toheating unit 54 will be reduced.

In the. event the electrical system should fail for any reason whatsoever, there will still be an alarm since plug 58 will fuse, releasing warning gases through outlet conduit 51.

Should the temperature rise to a point where it efiects-fusion of the plugs 36, 3'2, the entire building will be fiooded with C02 gas so that a general. smothering action will result;

It will'be noted that when fusion of the plug all is efiected, due to a constant draft of air flowing past the upturned exhaust end of the line 39a, an aspirating action will take place with respect to the individual room wherein the fire may have occurred, so that the release of CO2 gas will be substantially localized due to this aspirating action and will remain so localized until fusion of plug 4| in compartment or room R2 is effected. By passing the pipe or line 39a through the fresh air duct H, the gases passing through said pipe or line will be cooled during circulation.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided a coordinated fire extinguishing and alarm system-which is fully automatic and wherein the starting unit is of a nature such that it may be conveniently located to beaiiected by an abnormal rise in temperature in the compartment, thedeoxygenated gases from' the heating unit being ccmmingled with CO2 gas and circulated in a continuous. cycle.

It will be understood that the particular types of alarm units may be varied in accordance with individual requirements. For example, additional alarm units may be plugged in at 55 and extend to points remote from the compartments or building. Furthermore, the various pipe line cir cults-and ducts may be altered and rearranged to suit conditions, and other changes made within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a building having a compartmentor space therein to be heated and a heating unit, a flue normally conducting the gases of combustion from said heating unit to the exterior of the building, air supply and return ducts leading to and from said compartment, a by-pass damper valve arranged to close said .flue and by-pass the gases: of combustion flowing, therethrough into said supply duct, meansrendered operative through an abnormal rise in temperature in said compartment for actuating said damper valve, and means for automatically ,commingling a fire extinguishing gas with said gases of combustion. v v

2. In combination with a building having a compartment or space therein to be heated and a heating unit, a flue normally conducting the gases of combustion from said heating unit to the exterior of the building, air supply and return ducts leadingtto and from saidcompartment, means forgblocking off said flue. and simultaneously directing the gases of combustion into said supply duct, and expansible fluid means positioned to be effected by an abnormal rise in temperature in saidcompartment for operating said blocking off andby-passing means.

3. In combination with a building having a compartment or space therein to be heated and a heating unit, a flue normally conducting the gases.

of combustion from said heating unit to the exterior of the building, air supply and return ducts leading to and from said compartment, means for blocking off said flue and simultaneously directing the gases of combustion into said supply duct, means automatically rendered operative through an automatic rise in temperature in said room for actuating said blocking off and by-passing means,'a source of CO2 or analogous fire extinguishing gas under pressure, and a fusible plug normally blocking release of CO2 gas and positioned to be eifected by heat of the bypassed gases of combustion.

4. In combination with a building having a compartment or space therein to be heated and a heating unit, a flue normally conducting the gases of combustion from said heating unit to the exterior of the building, air supply and returns ducts leading to and from said compartment, means for blocking off the passage of gases of combustion through said flue and simultaneously directing said gases into said supply duct, a source of CO2 gas under pressure, and a fusible plug normally preventing the escape of said CO2 gas from said source, said fusible plug being po-' sitioned to be effected by heat from the gases of combustion directed into the supply duct to thereby automatically release CO2 gas into and cause it to commingle with the gases of combustion. I

5. In combination with a building having a compartment therein to be heated and a heating unit, a flue serving to normally conduct the gases of combustion from said heating unit to the exterior of the building, air supply and return ducts leading to and from said compartment, a by-pass damper valve operable to block passage of gas through said flue and simultaneously by-pass the gas into said supply duct, a source of CO gas under pressure, one 'or more fusible plugs normally blocking release of CO2 gas from said source, said fusible plugs being positioned to be effected by heat of the by-passed gases of combustion, means for directing the released CO2 gas into the supply duct, and means for automatically actuating said by-pass damper valve, said-latter means including an expansible fluid contained in a closed circuit positioned at least in part to be effected by an abnormal rise in temperature in said compartment.

6. In combination with a building having a compartment or space therein to be heated and a heating unit, a flue serving to normally con'-' duct gases of combustion from said heating unit l to the exterior of the building, air supply and tioned to be eiTected by heat from the by-pas'sed gases of combustion, means rendered operative through an abnormal rise in temperature in said compartment for actuating said by-pass damper,

an auxiliaryhating means for ensuring'fusionof said plugs, said auxiliary heating means being also rendered operative through an abnormal rise in temperature in said compartment.

7. In combination with a building having a room or compartment therein to be heated and a heating unit, a source of CO2 or analogous gas under pressure, fusible release plugs normally blocking escape of CO2 gas from said source, ducts'for conducting air to and from said room, said plugs being positioned to be efiected by air flowing through said ducts, means for ,by-passing gases of combustion from said heating unit into said ducts, and means rendered operable by'an expansible fluid for eflecting a by-pass action of said gases of combustion, said fluid being contained in a circuit with at least a part of the latter positioned to be affected by an abnormal rise in temperature in said compartment.

8. In combination with a building having a compartment or space therein to be heated and a heating unit, means for maintaining a supply of gaseous fire extinguishing medium under pressure, fusible plugs normally blocking escape of said gaseous medium, and means for effecting fusion of said plug through contact with the gas from said heating unit, said means including an expansible fluid mounted in a container adjacent said compartment and adapted to be effected by an abnormal rise in temperature in the latter.

9. In combination with a building having a compartment or space therein, air supply and return ducts for conducting air to and from said compartment, a supply of CO2 gas under pressure, fusible plugs normally blocking the escape of CO2 gas from said source, means for effecting fusion of said plugs through an abnormal rise in temperature in said compartment, said means including an expansible fluid maintained in a closed circuit with part of the circuit subjected to the temperature in said compartment, and means for conducting the released CO2 gas to said supply duct.

10; In combination with a building having a compartment or space therein to be heated and a heating unit, a flue serving to normally conduct gases of combustion from said heating unit to the exterior of the building, air supply and return ducts leading to and from said compartment, an

' eXpansible fluid disposed in a closed circuit with part of the circuit positioned to be effected by abnormal rise in temperature in said compartment, means rendered operative through expansion of said fluid for by-passing gases of combustion from said fluid into said supply duct, and an alarm system also rendered operative by expansion of said fluid for sounding an alarm.

11. In combination with a building having a compartment or space therein to be heated and a heating unit, a flue serving -to normally conduct gases of combustion from said heating unit to the exterior of the building, air supply and return ducts leading to and from said compartment, means for by-passing gases of combustion from said heating unit to said supply duct, an alarm system including a container having therein an obnoxious gas, a fusible plug normally preventing escape of said obnoxious gas from said container, said plug being located to be influenced by the bypassed gases from said heating unit.

12. In combination with a building having a compartment or space therein to be heated and a heating unit, a flue serving to normally conduct gases of combustion from said heating unit to the exterior of the building, air supply and return ducts leading to and from said compartment, means for by-passing gases of combustion from said heating unit to said supply duct when an abnormal temperature is reached in said compartment, an electrical circuit including a normally open switch, alarms in said circuit, means also rendered operative through an abnormal rise of temperature in said compartment for closing said switch to sound said alarm, a container having therein an obnoxious gas, a fusible plug positioned to be subjected to the temperature of said bypassed gases, and means for conducting said obnoxious gases to a point to indicate an alarm in conjunction with said electric system.

13. In combination with a building having a compartment or space therein to be heated and a heating unit, a flue serving to normally conduct gases of combustion from said heating unit to the exterior of the building, air supply and return ducts leading to and from said compartment, a by-pass damper valve adapted to normally maintain said flue open but to close the latter in the event of an abnormal rise of temperature in said compartment and by-pass gases of combustion to said supply duct, a source of CO2 gas under pressure, fusible plugs normally preventing escape of said CO2 gas, certain of said fusible plugs being positioned to be subjected to the temperature of said by-passed gases and other of said fusible plugs being positioned above said compartment, and means rendered operative from an abnormal rise in temperature in said compartment for of fecting operation of said by-pass damper valve.

14. In combination with a building having a compartment of space therein to be heated and a heating unit, a flue serving to normally conduct gases of combustion from said heating unit to the exterior of the building, air supply and return ducts leading to and from said compartment, a by-pass damper valve adapted to block said flue and by-pass the gases of combustion into said supply duct, means for conducting a cooling draft of atmospheric air in heat exchange relation with said by-passed gases of combustion, and means rendered operative by an abnormal rise in temperature in said compartment for effecting operation of said damper valve.

15. In combination with a building having a compartment or space therein to be heated and a heating unit, a flue serving to normally conduct gases of combustion from said heating unit to the exterior of the building, air supply and return ducts leading to and from said compartment, means rendered operative through an abnormal rise of temperature in the compartment to bypass gases of combustion to said supply duct and circulate said gases through said compartment and through said return duct back to the heating unit for deoxygenation of the circulated gases, and means for automatically controlling the firing of said heating unit in accordance with the temperature of the circulating gases.

16. In combination with a building having a compartment or space therein, a heating unit, a. flue communicating said heating unit with the exterior of the building for conducting gases of combustion from said heating unit to the atmosphere during normal operation of the heating unit, a duct arranged to communicate said flue with said compartment or space, means normally closing off communication between said duct and flue, means for effecting closure of said flue to direct the gases normally passing therethrough into said duct, and means rendered operative through an abnormal rise in temperature in said compartment for effecting operation of said flue closing means and establishing communication between the flue and duct.

17. In combination with a building having a compartment or space therein and a heating unit, a flue serving to normally conduct gases of combustion from the heating unit to the exterior of the building, air supply and return ducts leading to and from said compartment, means rendered operative through an abnormal rise in temperature in said compartment for by-passing products of combustion from said flue to said supply duct, an electrical circuit including a switch disposed to be actuated by said by-passing means, and one or more electric alarms in said circuit rendered operative through actuation of said switch.

J ERONE EDMUNDSON. 

